This project was supported in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed on this site do not necessarily represent those of the
Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Search Phoenix Art Museum's Collection

The Online Collection presents a selection of works representative of the major collecting areas of Phoenix Art Museum.
Each record features basic information accompanied by an image when available and as copyright allows.
The information on artworks is, in some cases, incomplete and is subject to change according to ongoing research.
Note that due to the large number of artworks in the collection (more than 18,000), not all are currently available online.
As the Museum continues to digitize our holdings and process data, new objects will be added on a continual basis.
Check the Recent Additions group to see these objects.

Image Rights, Reproduction, and Enlarging

Copyrights and other proprietary rights may be held by individuals and entities other than, and in addition to,
Phoenix Art Museum. Works in the Public Domain or where we have expressed permission are enlargeable; if an image
does not enlarge, we do not have rights to offer this option. Unauthorized use, including reproducing, transmitting,
distributing, and displaying of any protected materials on this Web site is prohibited, except for fair use as determined by U.S.
and international copyright laws. Please visit Terms of Use for more information.

Though American and Western American art works are displayed in separate galleries in the Museum, they are combined for purposes of online searching to return the greatest number of objects. Western Art is a subset of American art defined by subject matter, so a single artist might produce a body of work that falls into both categories. The American collection features art dating from the late 18th century to the early 20th century. Western American Art dates from the early 19th century to the 21st century and focuses on images of the American West.

Keep in mind that categories of art are fluid; use Advanced Search if you are looking for something specific.

The Asian collection includes work produced on the continent of Asia by diverse cultures including China, Japan, Tibet, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka and Java. The collection includes a wide range of formats (painting, ceramics, prints, sculpture, traditional garments) and spans ancient times to the 20th century.

Keep in mind that categories of art are fluid; use Advanced Search if you are looking for something specific.

The Contemporary collection includes art created since the 1950s by artists across the globe. The collection is not defined purely by date, however. In general, this category includes works by artists who are broadly considered by the museum field to be “contemporary” in media, style, subject, etc. Due to the division of curatorial areas unique to Phoenix Art Museum, you will also find contemporary artworks in the Western American, Latin American, Asian, and Fashion Design collections.

Keep in mind that categories of art are fluid; use Advanced Search if you are looking for something specific.

The European Collection includes artwork produced by European-born artists (predominantly from Western Europe) who were active from the 14th to 19th centuries. Holdings include works on paper, painting, sculpture, and some decorative arts. For works by European artists active in the 20th century and beyond, search in the Modern or Contemporary collections.

Keep in mind that categories of art are fluid; use Advanced Search if you are looking for something specific.

The Fashion collection includes garments, accessories, and shoes from the 18th century to the present day. It emphasizes known American and European designers, but also features garments by unknown designers/makers that represent historic eras. Note that visual documents of this collecting area often show multiple clothing items as “worn”, that is, presented on a mannequin. Individual items are listed below the image where necessary for clarity.

The Latin American collection encompasses over 500 works from the 18th to 21st centuries. Early works include Spanish Colonial painting, furniture, and decorative arts. This category is particularly strong in early- and mid-20th century Mexican painting and prints. Contemporary works by artists born and/or working in Latin America are also found in this collecting area.

Keep in mind that categories of art are fluid; use Advanced Search if you are looking for something specific.

The Modern Art collection includes works dating from around 1900 to around 1950 and reflects progressive art trends in both Europe and North America. Note that this collecting area overlaps with several other divisions unique to Phoenix Art Museum, including Western American, Latin American, and the Philip C. Curtis collection (e.g. Frida Kahlo’s painting is found in the Latin American collection, though she can also be considered a Modern artist). Search by date range to see the broadest array of works characterized as Modern.

Keep in mind that categories of art are fluid; use Advanced Search if you are looking for something specific.

The Thorne Miniature Rooms were conceived, designed and created by Narcissa Niblack Thorne beginning in the 1930s. The rooms faithfully depict the architecture and interior design of the 16th century to 1925 in Europe and the United States.